BIPOC TV & FILM Launches Unscripted Producers Lab in Partnership with Bell Media
The very first one-week lab-intensive, led by award-winning content executive Andrea Griffith in collaboration with Bell Media Senior Production Executive Tina Apostolopoulos, is aimed at emerging BIPOC unscripted producers and showrunners from across Canada.
TORONTO, ON | September 12, 2022—We’re proud to announce the creation of a new professional development initiative for emerging producers and aspiring showrunners working in unscripted, factual and reality series production.
The Unscripted Producers Lab, developed in partnership with Bell Media and lead facilitator Andrea Griffith, alongside Bell Media Senior Production Executive Tina Apostolopoulos, will kick off November 21-25 with a one-week intensive in Toronto. Participants will focus on producing an unscripted series from start to finish, including a range of topics: unscripted storytelling, management skills, casting, production and post-production workflows, financing and scheduling, and career development.
“This program has long been a dream for BIPOC TV & Film. The unscripted content space holds tremendous opportunities for BIPOC creatives to advance their careers and to boost their discoverability and export potential,” says Kadon Douglas, Executive Director. “We’re thrilled to be working with Bell Media and industry superstar Andrea Griffith in realizing this dream. There is also a great need for BIPOC perspectives in unscripted, factual and reality content; from the stories we tell to the crews we hire—this is a space ripe for radical change and refreshing narratives.”
“Our goal for the Unscripted Producers Lab is to help identify and develop our future creative leaders within this underrepresented area of the industry. Bell Media remains committed to developing diverse Canadian talent behind the scenes. We are hopeful that this initiative will be a game-changer for increasing access and professional opportunities for unscripted showrunners and producers.”
In her role at Bell Media, Apostolopoulos works with Canadian production companies and filmmakers on the development and production of original unscripted series, feature films, and documentaries for Bell Media’s suite of channels and platforms, including CTV, Crave, and specialty channel,s including Discovery and CTV Life.
As Director of Content, Sphere Media, Andrea Griffith is responsible for the development and execution of Sphere Media’s premium/specialist factual, lifestyle and kids slate for the global marketplace. Currently, Andrea is the Executive Producer overseeing 30 episodes of
the new, original scripted animation series, Riley Rocket for TVOkids, TFO and SRC. She is also an executive producer on two additional premium factual paranormal series. Before joining Sphere Media, Andrea was a production executive at Corus Entertainment for ten years, overseeing the development and production of top-rated original series such as Scott’s Vacation House Rules, Backyard Builds, and Big Food Bucket List for HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, and Slice.
Following the lab intensive, participants will be matched with a mentor for individual support for six months. A supplementary announcement will include the names of the participants and mentors.
Applications for the Unscripted Producers lab will be accepted through October 14, 2022; successful applicants will be notified in late October. More details on this program can be found at bipoctvandfilm.com/unscripted-producers-lab.
ABOUT BELL MEDIA
Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, digital and out-of-home media, including 35 television stations that are part of the CTV and Noovo networks; 27 specialty channels, including sports leaders TSN and RDS; bilingual TV and streaming service Crave; the iHeartRadio Canada brand encompassing 215 music channels, including 109 radio stations in 58 Canadian markets; and the Astral out-of-home advertising network. Bell Media is also a partner in Pinewood Toronto Studios, Montréal’s Grande Studios, Just for Laughs and Dome Productions, one of North America’s leading production facilities providers. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at BellMedia.ca.